Rail-joint.



s. D. BELL.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT.18, 1913.

1,085,589. Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

WITNESSES:-

SILAS D. BELL, or omnnnnss, PI-TEXAS.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 3,1914.

Application filed September, 1913. Serial No. 790,556.

To all whom it may concern r y b Be it known that I, SILAS D. BELL, a citlzen of the United States, residing at Childress, in the county ofChildress and State of Texas, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification.

This invention as specified relates to new and useful improvements inrail joints.

The object of the invention is to provide a joint of the boltless typeand involving overlapping and interlocking rail ends having a peculiarconfiguration and producing a noiseless bridged joint.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter described that will be strong, durable, efficient and simpleand comparatively inexpensive to produce, also one in which the severalparts will not be likely to get out of working order; a

With the algove and other objects in view, the invention has relation tocertain novel features of construction and operation, an example ofwhich is described in the following specification and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is an isometric view of the joint, the rail ends beingpartially assembled. Fig. 2 is a plan view of. the joint. Fig. 3 is aside elevation of the same and 'Fig. 4 is a transverse verticalsectional view on the line In thedrawings the numerals 1 and 2 designateadjacent rails. The rail 1 has an enlargement or boss 3 at its end withits sides flush with the head 4 and flanges 5. The rail 2 is likewiseprovided with a boss 6. v The b0s i.3 has the greater portion of itslength formed into a tongue? shouldered at; The inner side 9 of thetongue is V shaped as shown in Fig. 4-. The upper surface of the tongueis flush with the head 4. of the rail. The boss 3 is cut away below thetongue and a shoulder 10 contiguous to the shoulder 8 is provided. Theunderside ll of thetongue is also V-shapcd and is formed with alaterally directed shoulder lQ'extending to the outer side of the tongueand running ltmgitudinally of said tongue. The boss (3 is provided witha socket or pocket 14 extending-longitudiruilly of the said boss andexhibiting in cross-section a .shape adapted to snugly receive thetongue 7. A transverse shoulder 15 is provided at the inner end of thepocket against which the end of the tongue abuts when the parts areassembled. The side of the pocket extends to the head of the rail andreceives the side of the tongue, while the opposite side terminates in alongitudinal ledge 16 on which the shoulder 12 rests.

When the rails are assembled the tongue 7 is slid into the pocket untilits free end engages the shoulder 15 and the shoulders 8 and 10 engagethe free end of the boss 6. With the parts thus assembled the sides ofthe bosses 3 and 6 are flushed with each other and flush with the headand flanges of the rails. The heads of the rails are thus made flush andcontinuous and all traffic noise eliminated. If desired, space may beleft between the ends of the boss and the shoulders.

The rails are placed on ties so that each end of the joint rests on a.tie thus bridging the gap between. Near the boss each rail flange has aspike notch 17. Spikes driven into the ties and engaging in the notchesserve to hold the rails against longitudinal and lateral displacement,and maintain the members of the joint in proper relation.

A joint of this character obviates bolts and bolt holes and is readilyassembled and easily maintained; at the same time sutlicient metal ishad at the points where it is most needed. The notches not. only holdthe rails in position but. prevent creeping.

What I claim is:

In a rail joint, the combination of adjacent rails each having a bossat". its end,

one. boss being provided with a tongue having onev side V-shaped and alongitudinal shoulder at the. opposite side, the. other rail boss havinga ltmgitudinal pocket snugly receiving the tongue of the first boss, thel-iosses overlapping and having the sides [lush with the headsand-flanges of the rails, each boss having a shoulder receiving the freeend of the other boss, each rail having notches in its flanges adjacent.to its boss.

ln testimony whereof l' have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses. SlLAS l). BELL.

\Vitnesses:

Jno. WV. l)AVIDS()N, Cnvnn Davmsoiv.

